Automatic laterality identification for ultrasound tomography systems

A system comprising:

• a scanner bed on which a patient is to be horizontally positioned for ultrasound imaging, the scanner bed comprising:
• a surface parallel to the ground, the surface having a fore end, an aft end, a left side, and a right side;
• an opening in the surface through which a patient's breast can be disposed, the opening positioned closer to the fore end than to the aft end and centered between the left side and the right side of the surface;
• a position sensor system comprising:
• a first set of force-sensitive resistors arranged to a left side of the opening and extending towards the aft end of the surface, wherein the first set of force-sensitive resistors includes a first network of multiple resistors;
• a second set of force-sensitive resistors arranged to a right side of the opening and extending towards the aft end of the surface, wherein the second set of force-sensitive resistors includes a second network of multiple resistors;
• a first op-amp circuit coupled to the first set of force-sensitive resistors;
• and
• a second op-amp circuit coupled to the second set of force-sensitive resistors,
• whereby an increase in force applied to the first set of force-sensitive resistors results in a decrease in resistance with a consequent increase in voltage at an output of the first op-amp circuit and an increase in force applied to the second set of force-sensitive resistors results in a decrease in resistance with a consequent increase in voltage at an output of the second op-amp circuit;
• and
• a computing system coupled to the position sensor system and having software stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of the computing system, directs the computing system to:
• identify, using the voltage at the output of the first op-amp circuit and the voltage at the output of the second op-amp circuit, whether the patient has more of their body to the left side or the right side of the opening;
• and
• assign a breast laterality of a right breast or a left breast to data generated by the ultrasound imaging based on whether the patient has more of their body to the left side or the right side of the opening.